Bullied in NHS

[Colourmeworried]

Hello,

I’m just posting on here to see if anyone else is in the same boat or has experienced anything similar. I’m working in the NHS in a admin role and I’m being bullied by my manager. I know that sounds quite sad as I’m in my thirties but this grown woman in her 50s is literally ruining my life. I am SO miserable and every time I try to move jobs - I’m either held back because the hiring manager speaks to my current manager - or I’m simply not good enough.

My team consists of 4 people ( 2 who are LTFT ) and I’m the one who is constantly picked on nothing is ever good enough. Despite being in the role almost 5 years and having had over 10 managers ( high turnover over managers for a reason) but this one has been the worst!

Saddest thing is I am highly educated but stuck in a position due to life commitments but no one deserves to be bullied or treated so poorly?

any advice?
please don’t say contact HR I did and they are not for the people they are there to protect the NHS and don’t start me on Unison.

@Colourmeworried with your background I would look at universities and FE colleges, research funders etc. The world there is uncertain at the moment due to financial pressures, but having worked across both sectors I think the NHS is worse at the moment. Jobs.ac.uk is a good place to start. Local authorities / Councils would be interested in you too. And Schools.

I have worked in many different environments and roles over the years, across grades (speciliats roles) and I can hand on heart say the few years I spent directly working in the NHS were the worst I have ever had. Bullying went up and down and across the system.

Again, thank you all for your lovely words of advice and encouragement. I really do appreciate the time you’ve all taken to respond to this thread. I will start logging everything now and make a diary of incidences. As mentioned previously I have requested another meeting with her manager and I will look at the grievance policy. HR is a no go for me - they are for the company not for the people. Same with Unison, after all this time I needed their assistance and they were as useful as a chocolate teapot. I am not the only one who’s being treated like this and my colleague has already put a grievance in against her but has now gone off long term sick. The twisted and messed up thing about being in NHS is that the vast majority of the people I work with are related to each other in some shape or form or are the ‘bestest’ friends because they socialise with each other out of work etc I’m just a introverted person who wants to do her work and come home and focus on my own private life. I think this has definitely gone against me. I just don’t like licking ass - never have and never will.

Have you tried calling her out directly? You have explored other avenues and got nowhere, perhaps this is the way to go. I’m an introvert myself but I couldn’t stand for this, you spend so much of your life in work, you deserve to feel respected and safe.

No advice but you sound similar to me...introverted, not an arse licker. I'm in early 30s and manager in 50s and treats me like shit since I came back from mat leave. I've just gone off again on another mat leave but have kept a log of emails and things she's done/said and will be raising it further if she continues when I'm back after my leave...no advice just sharing so you know you're not alone. There's some nasty bitter women out there!!! Try not to take it personally x

I'd gather evidence over the next few weeks.
I'd speak with her manager and tell her she is damaging my mental health with her bullying and that if there is one more incident I will raise a formal greivance
If it recurs ... raise a formal greivance

You sound like an agreeable introvert, idiots misread that as weakness. I think you should put your energy into finding a better job and when you accept the new job write to your manager's manager with a detailed record of their subordinates behaviour.
In the meantime respond in a measured and honest way to your manager eg, "what do you mean you didn't know where I was?! Haven't you been checking YOUR email in the last 2 hours?" Shame the shamer.

Record her on your phone. This isn't illegal and can be used as evidence.

My advice after going through similar

Record everything as ‘contemporaneous notes’ (who said what/when/witnesses).
Don’t record conversations on audio/phone without her permission (GDPR).
Don't go off sick unless absolutely necessary. You will fall foul of ‘The Capability Trap’ where you become the problem who can’t fulfill her contract and so can be legitimately dismissed.
Apply for jobs outside the NHS.
Seek union/ACAs advice but don’t rely on them to sort the situation out, they won’t.